Epilogue

Kurt

“Ready for the party?”

“Almost. Just need to get this little one warm and cozy. “Hold still, wiggle worm.” Wade struggled to zip our wriggling, giggling toddler’s snowsuit. “Oof.”

“I’ve got this.” Bending down, I scooped up the little one and stood her on a chair. “Now, this will be easier.” Or it would have been if our child wasn’t wound up on tales of Santa Claus and probably a handful of cookies shared by the other kids in the pack. Although my omega was very serious about a healthful diet and minimal sugar for cubs, at this time of year, homemade goodies were everywhere, and we’d decided to pick our battles. Like making sure we had a couple of hours at home before bedtime when we could be sure there were no sugar bombs being gobbled.

It was our only defense.

But somehow we’d made it to Christmas Eve when even the most health-conscious parent had to throw up their hands and let their young loose with the other cubs to run wild. Santa was on the way and, unlike other years, they were actually going to have a chance to meet the jolly saint in person. Our little Juniper bounced and held her arms out to me. “Uppy uppy.”

Taking advantage of her distraction, I ran the zipper up and snapped the flap at the top closed. Then I gathered her up in my arms and kissed her rosy cheeks. “Tell Daddy to get his jacket on so we can go to the community hall and meet Santa.”

She squirmed to turn around in my arms to face her daddy. “Daddy, Santa!”

“I’m almost ready. If I get any bigger, I’m going to need a new coat because this one barely contains my curves.”

Wade’s pregnancy wasn’t as far advanced as last year, so Junie wasn’t going to be sharing her birthday, but before the spring thaw, she’d have a little brother or sister for sure. My omega looked so much better than last time when he’d been so thin I hadn’t even realized at first he was pregnant—that despite the fact he was almost ready to deliver. Now he was rosy and round and complaining about his awkward belly in the most adorable way. I waited by the door, holding Junie in my arms, whispering to her about Santa and toys and other fun things at the pack Christmas party.

“Mate?” I glanced over to see my mate sitting on a chair at the dining table, defeat in his posture. “Help.”

My heart swelled with love for Wade and our family, including the little baby who currently was making it impossible for him to tie his boots. “On my way.” I set Junie on her feet and went to kneel in front of my omega. When I had his laces in secure double bows, I kissed his belly before standing and offering him a hand up. “Have I told you lately how much I love you?”

“Not in hours.” His lower lip thrust out in an adorable pout. “Do you still? I’m such a bother. Beached whale that I am. I wasn’t nearly this big with Juniper.”

My humor dissipated as I gave him a stern look. “The fact you were able to carry a healthy baby to delivery before was nothing short of a miracle. The healer has told you already you are just where you should be weight wise, healthy, wealthy with love, and usually wise. I’m so grateful that you are here with us now and not stripping your own body of nutrients for the baby’s well-being. Now”—I pulled him as tight against me as the bump permitted and brushed a kiss over his lips—“are you ready to tell Santa what you want for Christmas?”

“I have everything I could ever dream of,” he sighed. “But I know of one little girl who might have some wishes.”

“Santa!” Junie chimed, wrapping her arms around our legs as far as they could reach. “Go now.”

Sometimes it occurred to me that our toddler’s basic sentences were very similar to my wolf’s.

My wolf who had finally agreed not to try to kill anyone who hurt our omega when the pack he came from went through another bloody leadership change but now seemed to be on a different track. Those who’d hurt him were all either dead or rogue, and nobody knew where they’d gone.

With my family finally ready, we paraded from our home to the community hall right next door. It was one of my first acts after returning from the resort to have it built because traditionally all the gatherings were held in the alpha house. I’d never minded before, but my family’s arrival gave me a desire for privacy. The hall was a community project, everyone coming together to raise the roof and put together a building we could all enjoy and truly be proud of. At first, I’d been afraid they might feel like we were pushing them back, but as Marco said, “This way, we can have all the celebrations and events we want without feeling like we are under the alpha’s feet.” I had no idea they had those concerns but was glad all of our interests coincided. It was as it should be. My father would be proud.

I always strove to use the training he gave me while making my own decisions for our pack. The first five years had been hard, but something changed since last Christmas. We walked into the hall and stopped short. When I was in there this afternoon, the decorating had just begun, but in a few hours, the pack had outdone themselves. There were bows and greenery and lights and tinsel attached to just about every surface and a Christmas tree in the very center, where the ceiling peaked enough to accommodate it. A big chair draped with red velvet to appear thronelike stood beside the tree.

A buffet lined the far wall, tables filled with delicious food of all kinds from appetizers to desserts, and the scent of grilling meat seeped in from outside. My stomach rumbled.

Miss Junie went back into wriggle mode, and I set her down to find her way over to the other children gathered around the tree, all equally excited. It was a beautiful sight, and I pulled my phone from my pocket to snap a quick picture of the scene. Arm around my omega, I took in all the happiness. The pack had rocked every element of the holiday.

“Nice job, omega,” Marco said, appearing from somewhere in the crowded room. “It’s wonderful.”

“Omega?” I turned to face Wade. “How did you manage to arrange all this when you haven’t left the house in days?”

Marco looked from Wade to me and back again. “Hasn’t left the house? But he—”

The look my sweet omega sent his way could have frozen the urn of cocoa next to the buffet table. My beta clammed up.

“Wade? When did you do this?”

His cheeks reddened. “I didn’t exactly stay inside the whole time.”

“But the healer said…”

“The healer said to take it easy, not overdo, and recommended gentle exercise, so while you were working, Juniper and I came over here and supervised. I didn’t lift anything heavy or climb any ladders.”

He must have been reading my mind. My wolf rumbled. “But why did you let me think you were always home?”

He shrugged. “I didn’t want you to worry. You were being so sexy and protective, I hated to say anything. And, really, alpha, the hall’s side door is about ten feet from ours.”

“True.” I chuckled. “I guess after all you went through before, I wanted you to have the happiest, easiest pregnancy possible.”

“Oh, my love.” He blinked fast, his eyes shiny with the tears that came easier when he was pregnant. “It’s been bliss. But as the pack omega, I have jobs to do, and you set such an example, how could I let everyone down.”

I hugged him to me hard. “As long as you promise not to do more than you need or, and this is important, want to.”

He struggled to free one hand and raised it. “Upon my children’s toes, I swear.”

I was still laughing when the big front doors burst open to admit Santa Theo and his elf Elias. The children swarmed him, cheering and clapping and escorted him and the big bag of toys over his shoulder to the throne for the most important event of the night.

I escorted Wade to the comfortable chairs set up for us as the alpha-omega pair, and a beta brought us a plate of food. I kept an eye on Junie, as did Wade, but our pack loved their young and everyone watched all of them with care.

One by one, they approached Santa Theo and either stood in front of him or, if they wanted to, climbed onto his lap and shared their Christmas wishes. Of course we had gifts at home both from Santa and from us, including a few extra for her birthday, but from the big red bag emerged a small present for each child. Junie, after her turn, raced toward us with the gaily wrapped package. “Daddies, it’s my prezzie!”

“It sure is, sweetheart.” Wade admired it as she presented all sides. “Aren’t you going to open it?”

The blank look on her face reminded me that she’d not only never had a Christmas to remember before but her birthday either. “Yes, Junie. The gift is inside the wrapping.” I took her shoulders and turned her gently toward the rest of the room. “See the other children?”

“Oh.” The wonder in her voice was everything. “I do it.”

As she shredded the paper and tossed it over her shoulder, I reached for my omega’s hand. “What do you think she got?”

He smiled but said nothing, so I just watched until our just-about one-year-old successfully managed to retrieve the contents of her present.

“Daddies, it’s a Cwistmas wolfie.” A little girl wolf wearing a red dress with a big poinsettia flower on it and Christmas Wolfie embroidered below. “I wuv her!” She climbed on my lap, the soft toy cuddled close. “And I wuv Santa and you and…” She waved her free hand expansively, encompassing the room. “I wuv everybody.”

“Me too, baby.” I kissed the top of her head and then lifted my omega’s hand to kiss as well. “But my family best.”